[Report] "Seoul Is Not a Safe City"... Anger and Condemnation Fill Sindang Station

Citizens "Want Safe Workplaces" as Memorial Visits Continue
Unified Call for Strict Punishment of Stalking Crimes

The entrance to the women's restroom at Sindang Station on Seoul Subway Line 2, where the murder of a female station attendant in her 20s occurred. Flowers left by citizens are placed there. Photo by Joohee Kang kjh818@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] "Why does a corporation exist if it cannot protect the safety of citizens and the lives of its colleagues?"

At the entrance of the women's restroom at Sindang Station on Seoul Subway Line 2, where a female station attendant in her 20s was murdered, the walls were filled with citizens' messages of condolence. Each note attached to the wall expressed sorrow for the deceased victim and anger toward the perpetrator. Above all, there was a strong voice holding Seoul Metro and the government accountable for failing to create a safe workplace. Through their messages, citizens expressed outrage over the recurring murder incidents, saying things like "Please let us work in a safe space" and "This tragedy could have been prevented if the perpetrator had been isolated earlier."

Citizens voiced their anxiety over the fact that a place used by hundreds of thousands daily, and a workplace for some, is not safe. A foreign student in their 20s who came to pay respects at Sindang Station on the 16th said, "There is a perception abroad that Korea is a 24-hour safe country and Seoul is a safe city." However, "After the Gangnam Station incident and now this one, I feel that Korea is not a safe country for women," adding, "It is so strange that I find it hard to explain to friends who have never lived in Korea that such an incident happened right in the heart of Seoul."

Kim Amu-gae (35), an office worker who visited the memorial after work, said, "I often use this station around the same time the incident happened. I didn't take the subway that day, but I was very shocked when I saw the news," adding, "I always thought such things happened far away, but since it happened in a place I frequently visit, I came to pay my respects. I really hope nothing like this happens again."

Park Amu-gae, a man in his 60s who came to the scene after seeing the news, criticized the judicial response to the crime, saying, "I don't understand why the person who did the bad deed was released without being detained. The weak response to perpetrators leads to preventable murders and repeat offenses."

The entrance to the women's restroom at Sindang Station on Seoul Subway Line 2, where the murder of a female station attendant in her 20s occurred. Memorial messages from citizens are posted here. Photo by Joohee Kang kjh818@

At the entrance of the women's restroom at Sindang Station, there is a sign that reads "A Seoul Where Women Are Happy, 'Travel (女幸)' Restroom." However, despite this, crimes against women continue unabated. Many citizens' condolence notes demanded strict judicial punishment for crimes targeting women and vulnerable groups, such as illegal filming and stalking. One citizen asked, "Since the Gangnam Station murder incident, how much has Korea's attitude toward women's safety and women's rights changed?" Another said, "'A restroom where women are happy'?where on earth is that? How long must individuals live cautiously?"

On that day, the memorial space at Sindang Station was also visited by politicians from both ruling and opposition parties, including Kim Hyun-sook, Minister of Gender Equality and Family. After laying flowers at the scene, Minister Kim told reporters, "I am deeply saddened that preventable events, such as the perpetrator being sent without detention, were not stopped," adding, "I will consult with the National Assembly's Gender Equality and Family Committee to quickly pass the Stalking Victim Support Act, which was submitted today, to ensure such incidents never happen again."

However, Minister Kim stated that this incident is not a "misogynistic crime." When asked if she viewed this case as a misogynistic crime, she said, "I do not see it that way," adding, "I do not agree with viewing it through a male-female binary frame. This case is a stalking murder incident."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.